Timing device



June 9, 1925. 1,540,894

W. J. MILLER TIMING DEVICE Filed Aug. 15 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet l W. J. MILLER June 9, 1925. 1,540,894

TIMING DEVICE Filed Aug. 15, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented June 9, 1925.

UNITED STATES WILLIAM J. MILLER, 0F SWISSVALE BOROUGH, PENNSYLVANIA.

, TIMING DEVICE.

Application filed August 15, 1922. Serial No. 581,928.

I 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, VVILLIAM J. MILLER, a citizen of the United States, and residing .in the borough of Swissva'le, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented or discovered new, useful, and Improved Timing Devices, of which the following is a specification.

My invention consists in a new and improved timing device for a group or plurality of operatively-associated machines or mechanisms.

Vhile my invention may be used with great advantage in connection with ma cliinery or mechanisms of any character, I have more particularly designed the same for use with glass fabricating mechanism.

For instance, in cases where automatic feeding apparatus is used to supply mold charges to automatic or semi-automatic glass fabricating mechanism, the various mechanical operations must be timed in relation to each other to properly produce the result in view, and to suit various conditions and requirements, such timing must be adjustable.

The object which I have in view is the provision of a practical and efficient timer for such and like purposes, and which is capable of nice adjustment. a

Generally speaking my' improved timer is characterized by the provision of a suitable number of members power-rotated in unison about a common axis, and each provided with means adapted by the rotation of the member to actuate a valve or other device controlling the operation of one of the group of. associated machines or mechanisms to be timed. The members are individually adjustable as to their action by being rotated on the axis relative to the other members, and means are provided for locking the members in fixed relation when properly adjusted.

More particularly the preferred embodiment of my invention comprises a series of annular members axially alined on a powerdriven rotary member, and each provided with perimetrally actuatlng means. Means are provided for ad usting the annular members relative to each other by rotating them individually relative to the axial member, and means are also provided for locking the annular members to the axial member to maintain the adjustment.

Other novel. features of construction and clearly show other parts; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the timer proper, the locking cogs being omitted from two of the adjustment shafts for the sake of clearness; Fig. 3 is a plan view of the timer and its drive, the stack being shown in horizontal section along the line III-III in Fig. 4; Fig. 4 is a broken vertical section of the stack and its base, and Fig. 5 is a bottom plan view of one of the controlling valves shown installed in Fig. 1 so as to be actuated by the timer.

The following is a the drawings.

A is the base which is shown as a rectangular box provided with an intermediate horizontal support 1 provided with a vertically disposedso'cket sleeve 2 in which is stepped the lower and reduced end of the central standard B, the downward protrusion of the standard through said sleeve being limited by the circumferential shoulder 3 of said standard, and the standard being fixed in said base by means of the nuts 4 screwed up on the threaded end of the standard against the lower end of the sleeve 2.

C is a worm gear rotatably mounted on the standard B as an axis being supported in the proper horizontal plane by the lower end of its hub bearing on the upper end detailed description of of the shoulder 3 with an interposed washer.

The upper end of the said hub supports the lower end of a. sleeve D, also rotatably mounted on the standard B. The lower end of the sleeve D is provided with a perimetral flange 5, and said sleeve D is caused to rotate with the gear C by means of dowels 6 engaging registering holes in the abutting ends of the sleeve and hub.

The bore of the sleeve D is enlarged intermediate of its ends so as to bear only at the top and bottom on the standard B as indicated at 7 f in Fig. 4, thus reducing friction.

8 is the top closure for the base A and is provided with a central opening concentric with the standard B and defined by an upwardly extending annular flange 9.

10 is a circular plate whose axial bore fits down over the sleeve D, and which is supported by the flange 5 of said sleeve. The perimeter of the plate 10 is undercut and overhangs the flange 9.

E represents a plurality of spacer disks whose bores fit down over the sleeve D and which are arranged in superimposed relation, the upwardly extending axial hub 11 of one disk supporting the next disk above, as clearly shown in Fig. 4, thereby positioning the bodies of the disks in spaced relation.

F represents the ring members, one of which is mounted on each of the spacer disks, said ring members being provided with differential bores,

the lower bore being of suflicient diameter to fit down over the perimeter of the disk while the upper bore.

is of sufliciently less diameter to provide an internal shoulder 12 by which the ring member is supported in place on the disk. The upper bore of the ring member is provided with the cog teeth 13 for a purpose to be described.

The hubs 11 of the disks are of proper height to provide a slight clearance between adjacent ring members.

A. top plate G fits down over the sleeve D and is supported in position by the hub of the top spacer E H is a disk having a central bore of proper size to fit down over the sleeve D on top of the top plate G. The perimeter of thedisk H is provided with cog to 'th 14, for a purpose to be described. This disk I call the locking disk.

The disk H, top plate G, spacers E and the bottom plate 10 are keyed to the sleeve D by the feather I which engages registering slots in said members and said sleeve.

The members keyed on the sleeve are prevented from vertical movement on said sleeve as by the annular locking member J surrounding said sleeve above the disk H and fixed thereto as by means of a set screw. The standard B protrudes above the upper end of the sleeve D, a nut 15 being screwed down on a threaded portion of said standard above the topof said sleeve. The upper end of said standard may be provided with aneye 16 so that the timer may be easily portable.

17 represents an annular concentric series of holes in the top plate H, registering with a similar series in the spacers E and in the bottom plate 10, the holes being arranged concentrically around the locking disk H. In each of said set of vertically v alinedholes is journaled a rodK whose lower end protrudes through the plate 10 and ispierced to receive a cotter pin 18 to limit the upward movement of the rod. The upper end of each rod is provided with a grasping knob 19 provided with a socket into which the upper end of the rod is inserted and pinned in place.

Each of saidrods is provided at its upper end just beneath the knob with a small cog wheel L which may be riveted or otherwise secured tothe knob so as to be fixed rigidly to the rod. IVhen the rod is in its lowered position with its cog wheel resting on the top plate G, the cog is in mesh with the teeth of the fixed locking disk H, and its rod is locked against rotation. However by grasping its knob, the rod may be raised as far as permitted by the cotter pin 18, thus lifting the cog out of mesh with the locking disk and permitting the rod to be rotated.

Each of said rods is provided with a pinion M within one of the ring members F and in mesh with the internal teeth 13 of the same, said pinion being splined or keyed on the rod so as to rotate therewith but to permit vertical movement of the rod relative to the pinion.

Each of the pinions M is supported by the spacer E which carries the corresponding ring member F, and there is just suificient space for clearance between the pinion and the next spacer above.

It is evident that when the cog L of a rod K is in mesh with the locking plate H, the pinion M of said rod will be held against rotation, and, because it is in mesh with the teeth of the associated ring member F, said ring member is locked in fixed relation in the stack. However, when the rod is raised to disengage the cog from the locking disk, the ring member is unlocked, and the rod may then be turned, thus rotating the ring member and adjusting its relation to the stack. hen the rod is again dropped and its cog engaged with the locking disk, the ring member is again locked in position.

The exteriors of the ring members are used for actuating or timing purposes.

Thus I have provided the ring members with radial projections 20 which carry antifriction engaging members, such as the rollers 21 rotating on vertical axes.

The sleeve 1) is power-rotated at constant speed and in a predetermined direction by any convenient means.

Thus I show a shaft N horizontally our- -naled in the base- A and provided with a Worm O meshing with the worm wheel C.

Power may be applied tothe shaft N in any convenient manner. Thus P is a triotion disk slidably keyed on the protruding end of the shaft N and outwardly pressed by the helical spring 22, 23 being a limit washer pinned on the end of said shaft.

Power is applied to the disk P by a friction gear wheel Q, mounted on the shaft 2% of the electric motor R- which is mounted on a suitable bases which may be bolted to the main base A. The motor may be mounted on the bed plate 25 slidable in the base S and adjustable relative thereto by the screw shaft and crank mechanism 26, so that the frictiongear Q may be shifted in relation to the center of the friction disk P, thus regulating the speed of rotation of the timer stack.

In Fig. 1, I have shown actuating means, for mechanisms to be timed, assembled in operative relation to the timer.

Thus I show a pair of vertically disposed standards T and T mounted on the base A.

On the standard T are mounted the two four-way valves IV and IV, each of which is assumed to connect both ends of a fluid pressure cylinder mechanism, not shown, to the fluid pressure supply and also to atmosphere. Likewise the standard T supports a third four-way valve lV connected to both 'ends of a third fluid pressure cylinder mechanism. The valves are shown provided with rotary operative stems 27 provided with a pair of opposed cam wings 28 and 29, so

that the roller 21 of the lowermost ring member 1* will throw the valve in one direction,

thus admitting pressure to one end of the corresponding cylinder and exhausting pressure from the other end of the same, whlle the roller of the ring member next above will have the reverse effect on said cylinder.

Thus for each four-way valve two ring members are provlded. On the upper portion of the standard T are mounted the twolbleeder valves X and X which are used to actuate an automatic valve controlling the operation of a fourth fluid pressure cylinder mechanism. The bleeder valves are actuated by the rollers 21 of the two upper ring members F.

It is evident that the rollers 21 may be used to throw any sort of controller or actuator. such as a lever, etc.

By unlocking and rotating one or more of the ring members, the operation of the various mechanisms connected up with the timer, may be timed in relation to each other with great accuracy, and also the operation of a mechanism in one direction may be properly timed with its reverse operation.

It is evident that a group of any number of associated mechanisms may be timed by means of my invention, a sutiicient number of ring members being provided to produce the necessary actuation.

It is also evident that ahy one or more of the ring members mav be unlocked, adjusted and relocked in position without stopping the operation of the timer or of the mechanisms controlled thereby. Thus the operations of a group of associated mechanisms may be adjusted or readjusted while they are in operation.

It is quite apparent that serious results might follow the adjustment of two associated ring members so that their actuating so that their rollers cannot so closely approach as to interfere with each others action.

Thus in Figs. 1 and 3 I have shown the lower of the two bottom ring members F provided with a radial projection 30 from which upwardly ext-ends a sto pin 31, which stop pin, by contact witi the projection 20 of the upper ring member, will prevent the rollers of the two ring members approaching each other nearer than a predetermined distance which is well without the danger limit.

Although for the purpose of clearness I have described in detail the embodiment of the principles of my invention illustrated in the drawings. I do not wish to limit myself thereby, but claim broadly 1. A timing device for associated mechanisms comprising a rotary axial member, a plurality of supports fixed on said member, a plurality of actuating members, each of said actuating members being rotatably mounted on one of said supports with said rotary member as an axis whereby by turning an actuating member its position relative to its support may be adjusted, and

means for individually lockingthe actuating members in their adjusted positions.

' 2. A timing device for associated mechanisms comprising a rotary axial member, a plurality of supports fixed on said member, a plurality of actuating members having perimetral contact portions, each of said actuating members being rotatably mounted on one of said supports whereby by rotating an actuating member on its support the relative position of its contact portion may be adjusted,-and means for individually locking the actuating members-in their adjusted position.

3. A timing device for associated mechanisms comprising a vertically disposed rotary axial member, a plurality. of supports fixed on said member, a plurality of actuatingmembers having perimetral contact portions, each of said members being rotatably mounted on one of the suuports with the rotary member as .an axis whereby the relative position of the contact portion of an actuating member may be adjusted by turning the contact member on its support, and means for locking the member'to its support to maintain its adjusted position.

tions, each of said members being rotatably mounted on one of the supports with the rotary member as an axis whereby the relative position of the contact portion of an actuating member may be adjusted by turning the contact member on its support,

-its support, clearance rality means for limiting the relative adjustment between functionally associated actuating members, and means for locking the members in their adjusted position.

5. A timing device for associated mechanisms comprising a vertically disposed rotary axial member, a plurality of superimposed supports fixed on said member, a plurality of actuating members having perimetral contact portions, each of said members being rotatably mounted on one of said supports with the rotary axial member as an axis whereby the relative position of the contact portion of an actuating member may be adjusted by turning the member on being provided between adjacent actuating members, and means for individually locking said actuating members'against movement relative to their supports whereby the adjusted positions are maintained.

6. A timer device for associated mechanisms, comprising a rotary support, a plurality of spacer members mounted on said support, an annular actuating member mounted on each of said spacer members, and means for rotating each of said actuating members relative to its spacer member for the purpose of adjustment.

7. A timer device for associated mechanisms, comprising a rotary support, a plurality of spacer members mounted on said support, an annular actuating member mounted on each of said spacer members, means for rotating each of said actuating members relative to its spacer member for the purpose of adjustment, and means for locking said actuating members to the corresponding spacer members.

8. A timer device for associated mecha-. nisms, comprising a rotary support, a plurality of spacer members mounted on said support, a plurality of annular actuating members rotatably mounted on said spacer members for individual adjustment, and means for locking said annular members in rigid relationship.

9. A timer device for associated mechanisms, comprising a rotary support, a pluof spacer members mounted on said support, a plurality of annular actuating members rotatably mounted onsaid spacer members for individual adjustment, and means engaging said annular members from provided with an within to lock the same in rigid relationship.

10. A timer device for associated mechanisms, comprising a rotary support, a plurality of spacer members mounted on said support, a plurality of annular actuating members rotatably mounted on said spacer members for individual adjustment, and means engaging said annular members from within for rotating said annular members for the purpose of adjustment and for looking the same in rigid relationship.

' 11. A timer device for associated mechanisms, comprising a rotary support, .a plurality of actuating members rotatably mounted on said support as an axis, and means engaging said actuating members from within for rotating said actuating members relative to said support for adjustment and for locking the same in rigid relationship to said support.

12. A timer device for associated mechanisms, comprising a rotary support, a plurality of annular actuating members mounted on said support, said members being each provided with an internal gear, a pinion meshing with each of said gears, and an operating shaft journaled parallel with the rotary support for each of said pinions whereby said actuating members may be individually adjusted relative to said support.

13. A timer device for associated mechanisms, comprising a rotary support, a plurality of annular actuating members mounted on said support, said members being each provided with an internal gear, a pinion meshing with each of said gears, an operating shaft journaled parallel with the rotary support for each of said pinions whereby said actuating members may be individually adjusted relative to said support, and means for locking said pinions stationary to hold said actuating members in rigid relationship to said support.

14. A timer device for associated mechanisms, comprising a rotary support, a plurality of annular actuating members mounted on said support, said members being each internal gear, a pinion meshing with each of said gears, an operative shaft journaled parallel with said support for each of said pinions, said shafts being arranged concentrically of said support, and means carried by said support for locking said shafts stationary.

15. timer device for associated mechanisms, comprising a rotary support, a plurality of annular actuating members mounted on said support, said members being each provided with an internal gear, a pinion meshing with each of said gears, an operative shaft journaled parallel with said support for each of said pinions, said shafts being arranged concentrically of said support,

a perimetrally toothed member rigidly said shafts and adapted to be meshed with said mounted on said support and cog Wheels mounted on said shafts and adapted to be meshed With said perimetrally toothed memher to lock said pinions stationary. I

16. A timer device for associated mechanisms, comprising a rotary support, a pinrality of annular actuating members mounted on said support, said members being each provided with an internal gear, a pinion meshing with each of said gears, an operative shaft journaled parallel with said supportfor each of said pinions, said shafts being arranged concentrically of said support, a perimetrally toothed member mounted on support, a cog Wheel on each of said perimetrally toothed member to lock said pinions stationary, and means for unmeshing said second named cog Wheels from sai perimetrally toothed member whereby said actuating members may be individually rotated for adjustment.

17. A timer device for associated mechanisms, comprising a rotary support, a plurality of annular actuating members mounted on said support, said members being each provided With an internal gear, a pinion meshing with each of said gears, an operative shaft journaled parallel with said support for each of said pinions, said shafts being arranged concentrically of said support, and means for locking said shafts individually to said support whereby ing actuating members are held in fixed relationship to said support.

Signed at Pittsburgh, Pa., this 3rd day of August, 1922.v

- WILLIAM J. MILLER.

the correspond 

